The Spruce Partridge or Canada Grouse, 29S 



•sliort distance, uttering a few clucks, which they repeat on alight- 

 ing. In general, when a flock is discovered, each individual form- 

 ing it may be easily caught, for so seldom do they see men in the 

 secluded places which they inhabit, that they do not seem to be 

 aware of the hostile propensities of the race. 



Along tne shores of the Bay of Fundy, the Spruce Partridge 

 is much more abundant than the Ruffed Grouse, which indeed 

 gradually becomes scarcer the farther north we proceed, and is 

 unknown in Labrador, where it is replaced by the Willow Ptar- 

 migan, and two other species. The females of the Canada Grouse 

 differ materially in their colouring in different latitudes : in Maine, 

 for instance, they are more richly coloured than in Labrador, 

 where I observed that all the individuals procured by me were of 

 a much greyer hue than those shot near Dennisville. The like 

 difference is perhaps still more remarkable in the Ruffed Grouse, 

 which are so very grey and unifoi'raly coloured in the Northern 

 and Eastern States, as to induce almost every person to consider 

 them as of a species distinct from those found in Kentucky, or any 

 of the southern mountainous districts of the Union. I have in my 

 possession skins of both species procured a thousand miles apart, 

 that present these remarkable differences in the general hue of 

 their plumage. 



All the species of this genus indicate the approach of rainy 

 weather or as now storm, with far more precision than the best 

 barometer ; for on the afternoon previous to such weather, they all 

 resort to their roosting places earlier by several hours than they 

 do during a continuation of fine weather. I have seen groups of 

 Grouse flying up to their roosts at mid-day, or as soon as the 

 weather felt heavy, and have observed that it generally rained in 

 the course of that afternoon. When, on the contrary, the same 

 flock would remain busily engaged in search of food until sunset, 

 I found the night and the following morning fresh and clear. 

 Indeed, I believe that this kind of foresight exists in the whole tribe 

 of gallinaceous birds. 



One day, while on the coast of Labrador, I accidentally almost 

 walked upon a female Canada Grouse surrounded by her young 

 brood. It was on the 18th of July. The aftVighted mother, on 

 seeing us, ruffled up all her feathers like a common hen, and ad- 

 vanced close to us as if determined to defend her oft'spriug. Her 

 distressed condition^claimed our forbearance, and we allowed her 

 to remain in safety. The moment we retired, she smoothed down 



